Man arrested for spearing neighbor

A Levy County man was arrested Sunday for allegedly stabbing a neighbor.

By KAREN VOYLESSun staff writer

A Levy County man was arrested late Sunday for allegedly stabbing a neighbor with a spear designed for hog hunting.

The victim's wound was not considered life-threatening, but officials said the man needed surgery on Monday.

According to the Levy County Sheriff's Office, Brian James Kearney, 50, was charged with aggravated battery for a 10:45 p.m. incident outside Kearney's home at 11916 NW 80th Court, northwest of Chiefland.

Sheriff's spokesman Lt. Evan Sullivan said an apparent ongoing feud between Kearney and his neighbor, Armando Perez, became a physical altercation on Sunday.

State records show that Kearney is a registered sex offender and had lived in the neighborhood since at least August. He was convicted in 1995 of lewd and lascivious assault on a child under age 16 in St. Johns County.

The first deputy to arrive at the scene, Cpl. Brian Marra, said Kearney admitted to stabbing Perez when he said, "I did it. He was talking (expletive) so I gigged him with my spear."

It was not clear if the argument was related to Kearney's status as a registered sex offender.

Perez had a deep and wide wound on his right forearm and was taken to a Gainesville hospital where he underwent surgery Monday morning, according to Sullivan.

The alleged weapon was found at the scene and was described by Marra as a 14-inch blade attached to an 8-foot-long pole that was a homemade hog hunting spear.

Kearney was being held at the Levy County Jail in Bronson on Monday.

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